History will be made in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Whether that’s a franchise first for the Washington Capitals, who have existed for 44 years without a Stanley Cup, or the first title for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, in their inaugural season, remains to be seen.

Regardless, the story lines — Can Alex Ovechkin finally hoist the trophy? Will Marc-Andre Fleury win his third in a row? Can an expansion team do the unthinkable? — are endless.

It all begins on Monday at 8 p.m. ET in Vegas.

Who comes out on top? Let our NHL experts break it down.

Kevin Allen: Capitals in six. The Golden Knights have looked nearly invincible, needing just 15 games to reach the Stanley Cup Final. Marc-Andre Fleury has often looked unbeatable. But there is something to be said for scratching and clawing your way to the final the way the Capitals did. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin looks as if he's on a personal quest to deliver his team to the franchise's first championship. This is a series that will be decided by injuries, breaks and perseverance. It just feels like the Capitals are a team of destiny.

Jimmy Hascup: Capitals in seven. And it will be decided in overtime. This will be the ultimate game in the ultimate series for the NHL. Sure, the Golden Knights will fall short, but their fans will still get to celebrate at home one of the best stories in NHL history. The Capitals aren't the Capitals without making things interesting in the playoffs. But Alex Ovechkin, unfairly maligned in the past for the Capitals' playoff disappointments, will score the game winner.

Mike Brehm: Golden Knights in seven. This will a fun series because George McPhee built the Golden Knights and drafted many of the Capitals’ stars. Even with big scorers on both sides, this will be a low-scoring series because both goalies are playing great. The Golden Knights have been the more consistent playoff team, and that, plus their strong play at home, gives them the edge. Former Capital Nate Schmidt could be a key factor.

Jace Evans: Capitals in six. The Capitals have shown they’re a different group than the Capitals of old by overcoming adversity at every turn these playoffs – from climbing out of a 2-0 hole in their first series against the Blue Jackets to eliminating the Penguins on the road without Nicklas Backstrom to shutting out the Lightning in back-to-back games to win the conference championship. Goalie Braden Holtby is at the top of his game: those shutouts in Games 6 and 7 against the Lightning were his first of the season. Alex Ovechkin and Co. appear to be on a mission to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. While they won’t have home ice advantage, that shouldn’t be a problem: they’re now 8-2 on the road in the postseason.

Game 7: Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65) celebrates with defenseman John Carlson (74) after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Vegas Golden Knights left wing Tomas Tatar (90), playing his first game since May 2, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in a 3-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets. Terrence Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Game 7: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tyler Myers (57) is congratulated by defenseman Ben Chiarot (7) after a goal during the first period of a 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

Game 6: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury reaches for the puck before San Jose Sharks right wing Kevin Labanc can get to it. Fleury made 28 saves for his fourth shutout of the playoffs. Stan Szeto, USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and center Steven Stamkos lie on top of Boston Bruins center David Krejci while protecting the goal during the third period of Tampa's 4-1 win. Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: James Shaw Jr., the hero in the recent Waffle House shooting in Tennessee, sits in the stands after being introduced during the first period in the Nashville Predators' game against the Winnipeg Jets. Shelley Mays, The (Nashville) Tennessean

Game 1: Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) reacts after a goal by Winnipeg Jets center Paul Stastny (second from left) during the second period of a 4-1 loss. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) kneels on the ice after missing a shot on Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray (30) in the first period of a 3-2 loss. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

Game 7: Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (88) celebrates with defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) after scoring a goal during the third period of a 7-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports

Game 6: Colorado Avalanche goaltender Andrew Hammond, who dominated the Nashville Predators in Game 5, looked human in a 5-0 loss that sent Nashville to the second round. Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports

Game 5: Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (92) celebrates after scoring a goal to tie the game during the third period of a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

Game 4: Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov looks up after he's knocked to the ice in the third period. Kucherov earlier had knocked Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen out of the game with a hard hit. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

Game 4: Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who named a Vezina Trophy finalist earlier in the day, makes one of his 30 saves in a 2-0 victory against the Minnesota Wild. Brad Rempel, USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider, back, was named No. 2 star in a 5-2 victory against Tampa Bay Lightning. Getting his first start of the playoffs, he made 34 saves for his first win since Dec. 27. Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Nashville Predators forward Craig Smith (15) celebrates with Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg (9) after a goal during the second period of a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury following their 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, their first playoff win in team history. Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports